Circling The Tip of The Mitt

Saturday, September 13

We bundled up again today as it was just 43 degrees and very damp (it rained most of the night and was still threatening more).  But there were things to see and stuff to do.  Nothing was going to stop us!!

Our first stop was in Indian River at the Cross in the Woods Shrine. There, a short walk down a sidewalk reveals this awesome view.

A 31 foot Marshall Fredericks statue of Jesus on a 55 foot tall cross created from a single California redwood tree set on a 22 foot high grass covered mound.  The pews provide space for 1500 people to participate in outdoor worship during the summer months (weather permitting).  

When you stand at the foot of the cross and look up you get this view and can't help but be overwhelmed with what Christ did for all of us.  Giving His life so that we might have life - now and forever.

In inclimate weather as well as spring, fall and winter, worship takes place inside of the church with this view.

What a fantastic way to start our day!

The church also has a huge collection of over 500 dolls dressed in the traditional habits of the various Catholic diocese around the world.  I had no idea there was such a variety.  Cases like this filled a couple of rooms and halls.

In addition they had dolls dressed in the various priesthood garb

and dressed and placed in setting to show the seven sacraments of the Catholic church. 

Tomorrow is a very high holy day for the Chaldeans so volunteers were stationed all over the area awaiting bus loads coming in from Detroit today.  The first couple arrived as we were leaving so our timing was excellent.

As we continued on down the road, we noticed a beautiful rainbow in the sky that added even more joy to our day.

Our next stop was in Petoskey at a small roadside park so we could get a good view of Little Traverse Bay.  The very chill wind along with the low temperature kept us from spending much time there, however!!

From there we continued on to Charlevoix which sits on Lake Michigan on the west side and Round Lake on the east side giving it lots of water views.  As you enter the town the sign announces you are in Charlevoix the Beautiful City.  And beautiful it was with well kept homes and businesses along with flower plantings along the curbs on both sides of the road all the way into the downtown.

We found a little park where we could enjoy another view of Lake Michigan

and then turned down a side street to discover several "mushroom houses" that we just had to stop and take pictures of because of their uniqueness.  

From there we continued on to the small but pretty downtown with a wide variety of little shops and lots of hanging flower pots just loaded with blooms.  There, too, was a small park overlooking Round Lake and the canal that goes out to Lake Michigan.  From here you can catch a ferry to Beaver Island.

We found a tiny but delightful restaurant, Smoke on the Water, where we could enjoy lunch.  Almost all of the food is homemade right on the premises including the very tasty pickles served with some of the sandwiches and even the catsup. Needless to say the food was outstanding.

After lunch we peeked into some of the shops and had lots of fun checking out Cherry Republic where everything is made with cherries from mustard and vinegar to jams, candies and trail mixes. There were lots of samples to try making it extra fun. We both walked out of there with bags.

Then we were off again turning North and heading back to Petoskey with its beautiful homes on the hill tops overlooking the lake 

and catching the lakefront road that winds around the upper part of the mitt passing through places like Harbor Springs, Good Hart and Cross Village.  Other than a stop to check out an antique shop, we just took in the sites from our car.  Between the last two towns, we followed a very twisty turny road that appeared to be a tunnel made up of trees they were so close together and arching over the road.  

Beautiful homes were tucked back in the trees and every once in a while we could peek through the trees and see Lake Michigan that was getting bluer and bluer as the stormy clouds moved away and blue skies and light fluffy clouds came in to take their place.

The last little piece of that road changed names but took us through Wilderness State Park which has lots of low dunes in it

and places to stop and walk over the dunes

and down to the water which is just what we did.  There were tiny waves just large enough to break and show their white sides as they broke coming into shore and the water took on a beautiful shade of blue like the sky.  The sounds of the waves and beauty of the surroundings were mesmerizing.

From there we turned back toward Mackinaw City and our campground as it was time for supper and relaxation from a day of adventure.